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News from the Library of Congress

Contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217

August 30, 2000

NLS International Union Catalog Upgraded for
Web-Braille Readers

The National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped has announced a new
feature that links its International Union
Catalog for braille and audio materials to its
Internet Web-Braille system. Web-Braille books
may now be accessed directly from the catalog by
using author, title, subject, language, keywords
and other search parameters.

Web-Braille, introduced on Aug. 24, 1999, became
a milestone in the history of library service
for blind and visually handicapped individuals
by providing eligible braille readers with a
direct channel to thousands of electronic
braille files. The free Internet braille program
has 1,000 patrons registered. More than 3,000
Web-Braille titles are available to individuals,
schools and libraries with Internet connections
and braille output devices such as braille
embossers or refreshable braille displays. The
online collection is growing at the rate of
about 40 titles every month, and a selection of
online national magazines will be available in
the near future.

During its first 10 months, the Web-Braille
program offered only limited search options;
but, because of its unprecedented success, an
initiative was launched to enhance the
accessibility of available books.

"The enthusiasm that greeted the Web-Braille
program called for an accelerated response by
NLS to the wishes of patrons for improved search
capabilities," said Robert Axtell, Head of the
NLS Bibliographic Control Section. "The
undertaking involved a united effort by Library
of Congress information technology specialists;
Judith Dixon, NLS consumer relations officer;
and members of the NLS Bibliographic Control
Section, all working together to realize for our
braille-reading constituency the full
functionality of the automated catalog."

Now the fully searchable records of the International Union Catalog contain direct links
to the electronic Web-Braille files. For books
that are available through Web-Braille,
searchers of the catalog will receive a message
that notes the availability of the book as a
Grade 2 braille digital file. New users of the
system are directed to register with a
cooperating network library to establish their
free user identification and password.
Registered readers may proceed directly from the
catalog to the online text of the book they want
with a single keystroke.

The NLS International Union Catalog is a
database of records for finding books in braille
and recorded formats. The 325,000 titles listed
are from the NLS collection as well as other
agencies serving blind and disabled readers
throughout the English-speaking world. Readers
may search the full catalog of books in all
special formats - including an option for books
that are in process - or choose to limit their
search to Web-Braille titles.

For further information contact: Robert E.
Fistick, Head, Publications and Media Section,
National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress,
Washington, DC 20542; telephone: (202) 707-9279;
e-mail: rfis@loc.gov.